Expandable permanent wave rod



Nov. 18, 1958 s. BRANcAcclo ETAL 2,860,645

EXPANDBLE PERMANENT WAVE ROD I Filed March 14, 1957 f n 'Z 6 a 7 2 $146 //x ya ///ra| /2b Jij WMF/Woef .j/ Z VERE QA/CACc/O United States Patent EXPANDABLE PERMANENT WAVE ROD Silvere Brancaccio, Washington, D. C. and Walter C. Smith, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 14, 1957, Serial No. 646,142

Claims. (Cl. 132-42) This invention relates to expanding and contracting hair curlers or rods, particularly adapted for use in the process commonly referred to as cold permanent waving.

In such waving of human hair, the hair is divided into a multiplicity of individual tresses which are wound from the end portions towards the scalp'upon curling rods and thoroughly saturated individually with a cold waving solution. After the solution has remained upon the wound tress for a predetermined period of time, thereby softening and changing the actual individual hair structure, the wound tress is saturated with a neutralizing solution to neutralize and wash out the waving solution. ln use, the curling rod is held at its ends, applied to the free end of a tress and then rolled between the fingers inwardly towards the scalp, to wind the tress thereon. `Such windings necessarily places the hair tress and individual hairs thereof under considerable tension.

Because the hair tress is tightly wound and under considerable tension in most conventionally used permanent wave curling rods, several objectionable and damaging results are frequently obtained, to wit:

First, a tightly wound curl impedes penetration of the waving and neutralizing solutions to the innermost strands of hair in the curl being processed.

Second, with the hair tensioned, the waving solution which softens the hair structure breaks down the molecular individual hair structure oftentimes weakening the individual hairs to the point where subsequent breakage often occurs.

Third, the hair `structure is so softened and tightly curled and actually flattened in cross sectional shape that frizzy and objectionable curls are produced.

As a result of the foregoing objections, a number of expansible and contractible curling rods have been designed and some have been commercially sold wherein the tresses of hair are wound upon the respective rods in expandedl condition and whereafter winding of the tresses, the individual rods are contracted to slightly loosen the convolutions of the tresses, overcoming at least to some extent, the objections previously recited.

In a Patent No. 2,753,874 issued July 10, `1956 and in a Patent No. 2,758,605 issued August 14, 1956 (both granted to one of the .applicants herein), expanding cold permanent wave rods are illustrated which are operative in structure and overcome to a considerable extent, the objections previously recited. Such structures however did not assure a perfectly uniform expansion of a longitudinally divided two-section rod, were difficult to manufacture commercially and' required a little more effort on the part of the operator than in the case of the conventional,non-expansible curling rod.

The `instant invention is an improvement on the c0- pending applications, Serial Numbers 502,674. and 578,239, filed by one of the applicants, `Silvere Brancaccio and has as an object the provision of a highly efficient eXpansible and contractible permanent wave curling rod 2,860,645 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 ice which is economical to manufacture and may be applied and utilized with facility and which produces throughout the entire length of a curling rod, uniform expansion and contraction, to completely overcome all the objections to previously marketed and used rods herein previously enumerated.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a hair curling rod of the class described having two generally semi-cylindrical shaped sections with an axial recess extending therethrough which receives a longitudinal actuating shaft projecting outwardly from one end of the rod for easy, longitudinal manipulation and which rod has widely spaced, yrounded cams thereon cooperating with cam-actuated pockets in the two sections and with bridging elements between the contractile portions ofthe respective pockets and the expanding portions.

Another object of our invention is to provide an expanding and contracting hair curling rod having two cooperating, generally semi-cylindrical sections, particularly adapted for low cost commercial manufacture from somewhat resilient material such as plastic or metal and wherein the two sections may be assembled easily and retained together through simple cooperating retaining elements preferably integrally formed thereon, while permitting the sections to be slightly expanded through a positive and uniform thrust cam action of an expanding shaft having one of its ends disposed at the end of the rod for easy manipulation.

A still further object is the provision in a curling rod of the type described, wherein a nicety of cooperation and interlitting of the parts is assured through commercial manufacture on a large scale production and wherein camming apart and contracting of the two sections radial.- ly of the axis throughout the section-lengths is assured by accurate guiding of interconnected parts. The entire free section of the rod is elevated or expanded uniformly across the length thereof as contrasted with several of the prior art devices wherein the end portions ofthe expansible section are not expanded commensurately with the expansion of the central portion thereof.. p

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an embodiment of our invention showing the two sections of the rod in slightly exaggerated expanded condition and showing the elastic tress-securing cord stretched with the retaining ring at the free end thereof axially aligned with a `handle disc at the outer end of the expansion rod for application thereover and intertting with a retaining boss;

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation with the rod in contracted form and the retaining ring operatively positioned;

Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded View showing all the parts of our essential structure disposed in appropriate spaced relation to readily indicate the assembly thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the expansible or first section of our improved structure, showing the widely spaced pairs of cam-receiving pockets;

Fig. 5 is an end View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 with a portion of the expanding shaft handle broken away to show the relationship of the guiding aperture of the second section` or body with the attachment tongue portion of the expansible or first section;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2 showing the relationship of one of the cam elements on the expanding shaft with the associated cam pocket surfaces and bridging structure therebetween;

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2 illustrating the 4aperturing of the lug portion and right hand end of the body or second section which serves to receive and retain the elastic, tress-securing cord and a portion of which serves to accurately guide an attachment detent formed on the corresponding end of the expansible or first section; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken vertically and longitudinally of a portion of the curler rod -on an enlarged scale showing clearly the two pockets or cam engaging surfaces with the intervening bridge elem-ent separating the two. l

As shown in the drawings, a permanent Wave rod having a generally cylindrical, elongated body indicated as an entirety by the numeral 10 is composed of rst and second elongated, generally cylindrical sections 11 and 12 respectively, said sections tapering graduallyv from their outer ends to the central portions and being united to form in combination, the elongated spool or body 1t) being of somewhat similar shape to a diabolo. The sections 11 and 12 have opposed planar faces 11a and 12a respectively.

Interposed between sections 11 and 12 is an elongated expansion shaft 13 of rod construction, having as shown, a pair of rounded camming enlargements 13a and 13b respectively, the cam 13a in the form shown being disposed at the inner extremity of shaft 13 while the cam 13b is disposed intermediately of the shaft. The shaft 13 carries at its outer or left hand extremity, a cylindrical handle or knob 13C having a roughened periphery for facilitating outward thrust of the shaft.

A tress-securing cord 14 of stretchable and elastic construction has one of its ends as shown, secured in the laterally projecting lug 12b at one end of section 12 (right end, as shown) and is of a length when stretched, to extend a short distance beyond the opposite end of the curling rod and has attached to the free end thereof a retaining ring 1S which is apertured to easily slip over the knob handle 13C and to be seated and retained upon a collar or boss 12d which is integrally formed as shown, with a lug 12e constituting the left hand end as shown of the section 12 and extending laterally or perpendicularly to the axis thereof.

The sections 11 and 12 when assembled, are of concave, peripheral shape from end to end having a decreased cross section from the ends to the mid longitudinal portion of the rod although the rod may be defined as generally semi-cylindrical. A lug 12b of the second or lower section (in the drawings) has a small axial aperture 12e therethrough, communicating with a narrow slot 12f which extends radially through the thin portion of the outer extremity of said lug. A substantially rectangular recess 12g is formed in the inner face of lug 12b extending through the lower portion of the lug and through the periphery thereof.

Recess 12g,7 is preferably made by a core of a mold which extends radially inward from the periphery of the right hand end as shown of lower section 12 spaced slightly from the extremity thereof and in communication with the cord-receiving slot 121C. The upper portion of this rectangular recess 12g (see Figs. 3 and 7) is shallower than the lower portion thereof and is dened by straight, parallel side edges 12h for precisely guiding the sides of a short retaining detent 11b (see Fig. 4) which protrudes axially from the associated or right hand end of the rst semi-cylindrical rod section.

At the opposite or left hand end of rod section 12 as shown, an aperture 121 is formed longitudinally therethrough defined at its sides by parallel straight lines 12]' and at its upper portion'by an arcuate edge concentric with the axis of the curler. This apertured portion 12i is adapted to accommodate a protruding tongue 11C preferably integrally formed with section 11 and of semicircular cross section (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5). The arcuate or semi-circular periphery of the tongue 11a` fits the recessed portion 12.1' of the lug 12C of the lower section with clearance upwardly or radially of the axis of Jthe curler to permit adequate expansion of for example, /gg of an inch. The straight, parallel sides 12] of the apertured portion closely fit the longitudinal edges of tongue 11e to prevent twisting of the tongue and expansible section 11 during contraction and expansion of the two sections.

In the planar inward surface 11a of the top section 11 (see Figs. 4 and 8) an axial groove 11d of semi-circular cross section is formed extending the greater length of section 11 and through the tongue 11C for accommodating the main portions of the expanding rod 13. At widely spaced portions in communication with said groove 11d, two pairs of camming pockets or surfaces are formed in the stock of section 11, the innermost pair comprising adjacent pockets 16a and 16b respectively, being adapted to be engaged by the terminal rounded cam 13a of the expanding rod 13. The pocket 16b is formed of somewhat greater depth than the adjacent pocket 16a of the pair. A second pair of pockets 17a and 17b respectively are precisely similar to the pockets 16a and 16b in communication with the shaft-receiving groove 11d. Said lastl mentioned pockets are for the accommodation and engagement of the medially disposed cam nodule or element 13b on expanding shaft 13.

The lower or second rod section 12 is provided with an axially disposed groove 12k extending for the greater length of section 12 and extending through the end or lug portion 12a` at the left end of the second section, as

shown in the drawings. Communicating with said shaft-,`

accommodating groove 12k as in the case of the upper or first section, are provided two pairs of camming pocketsl similar to the camming pockets provided in section 11 as previously described. Thus, the innermost pair of camming pockets numbered 18a and 18b (see Figs. 3, 6 and 8) are opposed to pockets 16a and 1Gb respectively of the upper or first section of the rod. Camming pockets 18a and 18b are separated by a narrow ridge or bridging element 18C which prevents slippage or inadvertent movement of the expansion shaft from one position to another.

A second set of pockets 19a and 19b of similar shape and depth to the pockets 18a and 18b are provided in the rod member 12 in communication with the axial groove 12k and separated by the bridging elements or ridge member 19]?. Pockets 19a and 19b are in opposed relation when the device is assembled to the pockets 18a and 18b of rod member 11.

The overall depth of the cooperating pockets 16b and 18b and 17h and 19b of the two sections is such as to just accommodate the nodule cam 13a at the extremity of expansion rod 13 and the overall depth of the opposed cooperating pockets 17b and 19b is similar to accommodate the intermediate cam nodule 13b, thus permitting the two sections in the contracted position to be substantially in abutment or contact along their planar faces 11a and 12a. In such contracted relationship, the cross sectional area or shape of the rod throughout its length is preferably substantially that of a perfect circle while when the sections are expanded by outward (left hand thrust, as shown) of the expansion rod 13 forcing the cam nodules 13a and 13b over the bridging portions and thereafter into the shallower cooperating pockets of the opposed curling rod sections. The sections throughout their entire length including their ends and medial portions, are spaced apart a uniform distance and unlike expansible curling rods of the prior art, will not belly out in the intermediate or central portions leaving the end portions thereof comparatively unexpanded. This important result is achieved through not only the close cooperative relationship of the two sets of cooperating cam` pockets widely and symmetrically spaced relative to the ends of the curling rod but also due to our novel interconnecting means at the ends of the two sections with provision for similar displacement of the extremities of the two rod sections. To this end, the tongue 11C may move upf wardly and rectilinearly in a general line perpendicular tothe axis of the shaft 13, when the camming elements are longitudinally moved to the left as viewed in the drawings.

Similarly, the retaining detent 11b has clearance from `the contracted position of the sections to move upwardly in a line `perpendicular to the axis of shaft 13 and to the same extent as the intermediate portions of the two sections. Relative twisting of the two sections in the expansion `thereof is positively prevented by the precise guiding of tongue 11c and detent 11b through the straight side edges 12j of aperture 121' and the side edges 12h ol' therecess 12g.

While various means for anchoring one end of the tress-securing cord 14 may be utilized we iind it convenient in the overall manufacture of our hair curlors to insert a terminal enlargement 14a of the cord through relatively enlarged recess 12g, radially inwardly thereof withthe cord extending through the communicating slot 127 and extending outwardly of the right hand end of thelower section 12 axially therefrom. The opposite or free end 14b of the cord is provided with an enlargement which is seated in a recess or socket 15b provided in a lug or ear 15e integrally formed a shown with the retaining ring 15. The cord 14 at the end portion adjacent enlargement 14b is passed through a narrow slot 15d corn municating with socket 15b and extending through the periphery of ear 15e.

The curling rod sections 11 and 12 may have spaced roughened or knurled sections lllx and 12x formed on the peripheral portions thereof to frictionally engage the tress of hair during handling and we prefer to lcnurl or otherwise roughen the cylindrical peripheries of the lug and end portions 12b and 12e of the lower section to facilitate turningof the rod in winding the tress.

In assembling our structure, the expanding shaft 13 is rst inserted through the enlarged aperture 12i of the left hand lug 12C of the lower section, sliding axially therethrough until the cam nodules 13a and 13b are received by the cam pockets. The upper section 11 is then connected with the lower section by rst thrusting the tongue 11C longitudinally through the upper arched portion 121' from the inner side of lug 12e whereafter by slightly bowing the lower portion 12 and simultaneously applying pressure to the upper or rst section 11 the de* tent 11b with very slight pressure is forced into interlocking relation with the upper portion of the oblong shaped recess 12g in the inner face of lug 12b ofthe lower section. The parts are then assembled with provision for contracting and expanding of the two sections.

T he two rod sections 11 and 12 as previously indicated, are 4preferably constructed integrally from somewhat resilient material such as suitable plastics, thereby facilitating bowing of the two sections for assembly. With the sections assembled, the detent 11b `may be readily disengaged from the aperture 12g by bowing the two sections out of normal along a lesser arc or curve than that defined by the lower or outer portion of the second section 12.

To expand the sections the shaft 13 by grasping the knob 13C is moved a slight distance to the left as viewed in the drawings, causing the cam nodules 13a and 13b to be shifted across the bridging elements of the respective pairs of opposed cam pockets and into the shallower cooperating pockets 16a and 18a and 17a and 19a re spectively of the two rod sections. The shaft is retained against accidental displacement with the sections in a uniformly expanded position through the interposition of the bridging elements 16e and 18e and the second set of bridging elements 17C and 19e.

With the rod in such expanded and positively retained position, the end of a blocked tress of hair is smoothly wound upon the periphery of the two-section rod, the central roughened peripheral portions 11x and lZx serving to prevent slippage of the hair upon the rod and the rod is rolled with the end of the tress thereon towards .the scalp, :tensioning the tress in volute .or `helical man ner. The winding continues until the rod has wound the entire tress to a line closely adjacent to the scalp. Thereafter, the tress-holding cord t4 is stretched and extended over the exterior of the curl formed and the retaining ring l5 is slipped over the knob 13C and then inwardly of the boss 12d where it is retained with the cord slightly tensioned and drawn against the exterior of the curl to retain the same.

The curled tress of hair either previously saturated with waving solution or saturated with waving .solution after being wound upon the rod is then released from the tension received through winding of the tress by merely pushing inwardly upon the knob 13e of expanding rod i3, such inward pushing causing `the cam nodules i3d and i?b to be disposed in the deeper and enlarged pockets of the two sets with the sections then being substantially in contact along their planar inner and opposed faces Illa and 12a and with the cross section of the `rod throughout its entire length, being then preferably of true circular configuration.

The maximum expansion of the two sections of the rod may be varied within limits, but we iind that a maximum of 1/32 of an inch is adequate to properly release the tension from the curl after winding. The rod with the loosened curl thereon remains in contracted position during the working of the solution upon the hair and during application subsequently of the `neutralizer `and rinsing material. l

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that our improved hair curler structure assures uniform expension and contraction of the interconnected end portions of the two rod sections with the medial portions thereof, thereby eliminating the usual bellying of the rod body which is usual in prior art constructions.

When expanded, the camming means or elements cannot slip from their engagement with the expansion-pocket portions of the two rod sections to the end that expansion of the rod is assured during the winding operation of the tress of hair thereon.

Furthermore, with the improved structure of our rod, engagement of the end of the tress of hair and uniform winding and retention of the tress on the rod, -is facilitated through the peripherally cylindrical lug structure at the two ends of the lower section of the rod with roughened peripheries and also, due to the uniform expansion of all portions of the rod and the locking of the rod through bridging elements in its expanded position.

Our improved construction makes possible low Cost manufacture of all portions of thedevice, with the .exception of course of the elastic cord 14, by molding of several suitable types of plastic materials `having some inherent resiliency. The construction of the two rod sections 11 and 12, expansion shaft 13 and interiittingV connections between the sections, enable these parts to be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled without skilled training.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

l. An expansible curling rod for permanently waving human hair comprising an elongated, substantially cylindrical body formed of first and second, cooperating, substantially semiecylindrical sections, said second section having a lug at each end extending generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body, each of said lugs having inner and outer faces, said inner faces being opposed, cooperating means at one end of the rod for interconnecting the two sections adjacent said end with freedom for limited relative displacement of said sections transversely of the axis of the rod, the lug on said second section at the opposite end from said last mentioned interconnecting means having a substantially planar inner face provided with a substantially rectangular shallow recess opening to said face, said first section at its end corresponding to said recessed lug having a longitudinally extending, short projecting detent adapted to interfit and be seated in said recess, said recess being of a height relative to said detent to provide for lslight movement of said sections apart and together, an expansion shaft having camming means thereon and extending' axially between the two sections with one of its extremities projecting beyond the end of said rod for actuation to cause said camming means to cooperate with opposed cammed surfaces recessed from the planar surfaces of said sections.

2. An expans-ible curling rod for permanently waving human hair comprising, an elongated, substantially cylindrical body formed of first and second, cooperating substantially semi-cylindrical sections, said second section having a lug at each end extending generally transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the body, each of said lugs having inner and outer faces, said inner faces being opposed, one of said lugs having an axially extending, tongue-receiving aperture therethrough defined at its side portions by substantially straight lines andopening 'to the inner face of said lug, said first section having a tongue longitudinally projecting from one end thereof and received within said aperture on the adjacent lug of Vsaid second section, the height of said aperture relative to the thickness of said tongue providing for slight movement of said first section transverse to the longitudinal axis of said body, said second section at its opposite end, having formed in its inner face of the lug thereon a rectangular, shallow recess opening to said face and defined at its sides by substantially straight lines, said first section at `its end corresponding to said recessed lug having a longitudinally extending, short detent adapted to intert and be seated in said recess, said recess being of a height relative to said detent to provide for slight movement of said first section transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod, an expansion shaft having camming means thereon and extending axially between the sections with one of its extremities projecting out through and beyond said apertured lug and adapted to be actuated by said projecting end to cause said camming means to cooperate with opposed cam surfaces on said sections for uniformly moving the sections throughout their length transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said sections being constructed of somewhat resilient material whereby said sections may be bowed in assembly 'after said tongue of the first section has been longitudinally projected through the tongue-receiving aperture of the adjacent lug of said second section to thereby enable the detent at the opposite end of said first section to be engaged or disengaged lwith the recess on 8, the inner face of the corresponding lug of the second section.

4. An expansible curling rod for permanently waving human hair comprising, an elongated, substantially cylindrical body formed of cooperating, first and second, substantially semi-cylindrical sections, said sections having substantially planar opposed, longitudinally extending surfaces provided with axial, longitudinal, shaft-accommodating grooves, an axially disposed expansion shaft accommodated in said opposed grooves with one of its ends projecting beyond corresponding ends of said two sections and adapted to be longitudinally actuated by said projecting end, said expansion shaft having at least one camming enlargement intermediate of its ends, said two sections having opposed pairs of camming pockets recessed from their inner planar faces and communicating with said opposed grooves, the first corresponding pair of opposed pockets of said sets being adapted to substantially fully accommodate said camming enlargement of the expansion shaft with the planar faces of said sections substantially in abutment and with said rod contracted, the second corresponding pair of opposed pockets being somewhat shallower than said first opposing pair to receive portions of said cam enlargement when said shaft is longitudinally moved in an appropriate direction, and at least one of said sections having a transverse ridge element for positively retaining said shaft against longitudinal displacement in either expanded or contracted positions of said sections, and means adjacent both corresponding ends of said sections for retaining the two sections together with freedom for slight movement of said sections together and apart transversely of the longitudinal axis of said rod. v

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said expansion shaft having a pair of spaced camming nodules disposed at substantially corresponding, intermediate portions of the rod relative to the ends thereof when assembled and said two sections having two opposed pairs of camming pockets of the structure defined in claim 4 and positioned respectively for cooperation with said two camming nodules to contract and expand said rod sections and at least one of said sections between both pairs of said camming pockets having transverse ridge elements bridging the two pockets involved and provided with substantially straight line edges for retaining the expansion shaft against inadvertent longitudinal displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,874 Brancaccio July 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 943,038 France Feb. 24, 1949 

